Summary of case studies

Occupational Health Adviser (OHA) arranged for medical treatment to be carried out privately saving 3 months for a neurosurgeon appointment and 12 months for an MRI scan. MRI scan revealed best treatment was physiotherapy and graduated return to work in less demanding role.

3 months

Employee was working at normal capacity 13 months after accident.

Early medical treatment can speed up return to work.

OHA intervention can improve motivation to return to work.

Costs: medical treatment £1034.

Savings: Employee was off work for 10 months instead of an estimated absence of > 2 years

OHA arranged physiotherapy for back injury that was slow to respond. OHA arranged for a private orthopaedic consultation and MRI scan that revealed surgery was required. Postoperative physiotherapy and hydrotherapy were then provided.

2 months

Employee returned to his normal job 8 months after the accident

Early medical treatment, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can significantly speed up return to work.

After 6 months of medical treatment for his injuries, the employee (an engineering craftsman) was offered a full rehabilitation package comprising advice, support, different job, adapted work equipment, mobility/access needs etc.

Immediate

Employee returned to full-time desk-based work within 12 months of the accident and continues to lead a normal life.

A full rehabilitation package allowed the retention of a skilled and valued worker

90% of cost of specialist equipment was paid through access-to-work scheme.

Reduced cost to company through reduced long-term absence and no ill health retirement cost.

Company provided private physiotherapy until NHS physiotherapy was available. Company corresponded with consultant leading to an operation to free a trapped nerve being brought forward. Risk assessments set out appropriate work regimes both pre- and post-operation to ensure rapid return to normal work.

Immediate

Employee (cold store operative) has returned to full duties and is pain-free. Instead of being off work for 10 months, he returned to work (on graduated hours and restricted activity) after just 6 weeks.

A full rehabilitation package allowed a valued worker to return to work more than 8 months earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

Company occupational health department monitored the case allowing employee to return to work on reduced hours and with limited physical activity both prior to his heart artery bypass operation and following surgery. However there were difficulties in making the rehabilitation fully effective.

Immediate

Employee returned to work 4 months post-operation and within a further 3 months was on full-time hours and performing well.

Employee suffered unnecessary anxiety during rehabilitation due to poor support from his line manager. Teamwork is essential to overcome such issues.

Total disability cost was higher than necessary as employee was absent from work longer than was necessary post-operatively due to anxiety/concerns about returning to work.

Employee attended a routine medical check-up provided by the company’s occupational health department. Symptoms caused concern and subsequent investigation revealed type 2 diabetes. The company put in place a full rehabilitation package to protect the employee’s health and allow him to work normally.

Immediate

A medical condition was detected that would have gone untreated for years resulting in sickness absence, reduced productivity and serious medical complications. He now works full shifts and is coping well.

Routine medical surveillance can pick up serious illnesses early, to the financial benefit of both the company and employee.

Intervention by in-house occupational health department at no additional cost.Without intervention employee would have had increasing sickness absences and his ability to work would have deteriorated.

The employee was visited at home by an OHA and advice given. Following 6 weeks absence he returned to work with a full rehab. package in place offering reduced hours, easier work, manual handling training and physiotherapy.

Immediate

8 weeks after returning to work the employee was back at his usual work having made a full recovery.

A carefully thought out return-to-work rehabilitation package ensures less chance of the injury repeating itself.

Employee was only off work for 6 weeks following rehabilitation intervention, reducing an extended sickness absence considerably.

Driver was assessed by the company’s OHD, followed by an extended course of physiotherapy and acupuncture and easier driving duties. A further absence due to back pain led to reassessment and light office duties.

Immediate

This case has been ongoing for a year and is continuing. The driver wishes to return to driving duties and should do so soon.

Earlier restriction on driving would have been beneficial and may have reduced sickness absence. Physiotherapists concerns that physio was not working effectively should have highlighted the OHD to a more serious complaint.

Intervention by in-house occupational health department at no additional cost.

Sickness absence costs could have been reduced had the OH team not been so new and not fully aware of the situation.

Employee was given immediate advice by the company’s OHD on how best to treat the injury. He returned to work a week later and under the company’s rehabilitation programme was put on light duties and restricted hours for 1 week. The OHD provided physiotherapy and further advice.

Immediate

Within 3 weeks of the injury the employee was back to normal duties and hours.

Intervention by OHD immediately after the injury was beneficial.The rehabilitation programme ensured the employee could return to work early without risk of further injury.

Intervention by in-house occupational health department at no additional cost.

Sickness absence costs were minimised by the rehabilitation procedures in place.